Tablet-holder for telephones.



No. 778,448. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904. J. W. GURRIER.

TABLET HOLDER FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION IILED'AUG. 9, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

HI-mentor win: flfll z'i'a ei' W I mmnen No. 778,448. 7 PATENTED DEC 27,1904.

' J. W. CURRIER.

TABLET HOLDER FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9.1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET Z.

W interns No. 778,448. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904. J. W. CU RRIER.

TABLET HOLDER FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION PILED'AUG. 9, 1904.

3 SHEETE-SHEET 3.

'/l// 1? meme? i UNITED STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

JOHN CURRIER, OF NORTH TROY, VERMONT.

TABLET-HOLDER FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,448, dated December27, 1904.

' Application filed August 9, 1904. Serial No. 220,144.

To rtZZ 1071 0717, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TV. CURRIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at North Troy, in the county of Orleans and State of Vermont,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tablet-Holders forTelephones; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved tablet-holder for use inconnection with telephone-cabinets.

The main object of the invention is to avoid the unsightly connectionsusually employed in devices of this character and to arrange the holderso that the surface of the tablet supported thereby will be normallyflush with the surface of the usual battery-cabinet.

The invention, broadly stated, comprise a tablet-holder arranged forconnection with the side of the battery-box, so that the edge of saidholder rests snugly beneath the projecting edge of the battery-box top,whereby the tablet supported by said holder is maintained on a planewith the surface of the battery-box cover.

The invention in its preferred form and in desired modifications thereofis clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in three sheets, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a telephone cabinet,showing my improved tablet-holder with tablet connected thereto. Fig. 2is an enlarged perspective view of the holder. Fig. 3 is a brokensection on line mm of Fig. 2, the tablet being shown in place. Fig. i isa perspective view of a modified form of tablet. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview showing the tablet-holder illustrated in Fig. 4 applied to thetelephone-cabinet. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another form ofholder, the securing means being illustrated in operative relationthereto; and Fig. 7 is asectional view showing the holder illustrated inFig. 6 secured in place on the telephone-cabinet.

in the preferred and modified forms com-- prises, essentially, a tableprovided with means for securing it to the battery-box of thetelephone-cabinet, the table being provided near its upper end with atablet-receiving recess, to the free end of the upper wall of whichrecess is hinged a tablet-cover. These essential features arecharacteristic of all the forms of the invention herewith presented and,togetherwith the manner of securing the table of the holder immediatelybeneath and in contact with the overhanging edge of the battery-box,forms the gist of the presentinvention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, my improved tablet-holdercomprises a table 1 of a length about equal to the length of the tabletdesired for use, but of greater Width than said tablet to leave aprojecting portion 2 at one side of the tablet when the latter is inplace. The upper or rear edge of the table is provided with a lip 3,suitably bent to form a recess 4, and to the forward free end of the lip3 is hinged a cover 5 of a size to cover the tablet designed to besupported. The hinge 6 between the cover and lip 3 is arranged tomaintain the cover in a position slightly beyond the vertical whenelevated, whereby to expose the inner face of said cover, on which face7 appropriate data, such as calls or the like, may be inscribed for theinformation of the telephone user. The hinge connection 6 may be of anydesired form or construction adapted to accomplish the purpose noted.The forwardly-projecting portion of lip 3 and the contiguous parallelportion of the table 1 are provided with registering screw-holes 8 toreceive hand-screws 9. A support for the table 1 is arranged beneath thesame, comprising a vertical arm 10 and an approximately horizontal arm11 of an integral metallic strip. The arm'll is prefer. ably twistedfrom a horizontal plane to support the table 1 in the incline agreeingwith the incline of the top of the battery-box.

In the use of the tablet-holder just described a tablet 12 is secured inplace on the table 1, the bound edge of the tablet being inserted in therecess 4. and securely held l neath the table 1, hent dowi'iward at aright therein by the screws 9, passing through the l tablet and thescrew-holes 8. The verticallyprojecting arm 10 is then screwed intoposition against one side of the battery-box, with the portion 2 of thetable resting squarely beneath the overhanging portion of the lid 13 ofsaid box, said projecting portion 2 of the table being cut away at itsupper end, as at 14:, to provide for fitting around the wall-board 15 ofthe telephone-cabinet. The arm 10 may be of any length desired and maybe removably secured by belts or ordinary screws, the sole requisite, sofar as my invention is concerned, being that said arm 10 shall besecured wholly to the upper hinged portion of the battery-box, asclearly illustrated in the drawings, whereby to give ready access to thebatteries without disturbing the tablet-holder.

Referring now to Figs. 4: and 5 it will be noted that the cover in theform shown in said figures is mainly a duplicate of the preferred formillustrated in Fig. 1, having the table 1, with projecting portion 2,the lip 3 bent to form the tablet-receiving recess 4, the cover 5,hinged at 6, and the tablet-securing screw 9, though in this form ofholder but a single screw is used, being arranged centrally of the widthof the holder. The table in this form is preferably of metal, the lip 3being an extended portion of and integral with the table. The table inthis form is of greater width than the table in the preferred form, theportion thereof beyond the projecting part 2 being bent downward atapproximately a right angle to form a flange 16, arranged to be se curedto the side of the battery-box. In this form of holder 1. also prefer touse an armrest comprising a plate 17, longitudinally slidable in ways18, secured beneath the table, the plate being provided at its inner endwith a downwardly-turned lip 19, arranged to engage a cross-bar 20,joining the ways 18, whereby to limit the outer or extended movement ofthe plate 17, said projection 19 contacting with the screw-bolt 9 tolimit the inward movement of the plate. The plate 17 is preferablyrolled at its free end to provide a hand-hold or grip 21. and is of alength to slide wholly beneath the table 1 when moved to inwardposition. In this form of holder the tablet 12 is secured within therecess 4 by the single screw 9, and the flange 16 is screwed to the sideof the battery-box with the projecting portion 2 of the table snuglyfitting beneath the overhanging top of said box.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, wherein another form of tablet-holder isillustrated, it will be seen that the table 1, projecting portion 2, lip3, recess L, cover 5, and tablet-securing screws 9 are the same in thisform as in the others, the modification existing only in the securingmeans. This holder is arranged for removable connection to thebattery-box, such connection comprising a strap 22, secured beangle at23, said bend being located some distance inward from the free edge ofportion 2 of the table. The strip is then projected forwardly in aplanewith the portion secured to the table, as at 24, and then bentlaterally toward the rear end of the holder, providing a holding member25. Straps 26, centrally oifset at 27,, are secured to the sides of thebattery-box, and contiguous the forward one of such straps is secured aplate 28, having a central screwthreaded opening 29. The portion 23 ofthe metallic strip 22 is provided with a screwthreaded opening 30, inwhich is mounted a threaded hand-screw 31. In securing the parts inplace the holding member 25 is secured in the straps 26 by sliding thefree end of said member laterally through the alined offset portions 27of said straps, and the end of handscrew 31 is inserted in the opening29 of plate 28. The screw may be adjustsd to force the securing'strap 22from the plate 28, clamping the holder to the battery-box, though it isevident that simple disengagement of the screw 31 from the plate 28 willpermit ready separation of the holder from the box.

It will be seen from the constructions described that the improvedholder is provided with a projecting portion to contact from he neathwith the overhanging lid of the batterybox and that the holder is sosecured to the side of the box as to be braced by said over hanging lidportion. This construction provides for effective securing of the holderby the use of but a single strap, as 10. It will be further noted thatthe holder is secured, to one side of the box, that the securing meansis practically concealed beneath the holder, and that no means are usedwhich project across the battery-box either interiorly or exteriorly.The holder is also secured entirely to the upper or hinged section ofthe batterybox, whereby to permit the opening of said box for access tothe battery without in the least disturbing the holder or itsconnection.

Another important detail of my invention. is the use of a hinged coverconnected directly with the plate for supporting the tablet, the innersurface of which cover is arranged to be inscribed with data for the useof the operator. This construction provides a protecting medium for thepad which remains at all times connected directly with the holder. Theremovable means for securing the tablet in place in the holder alsoforms a material part of my invention, particularly in connection withthe recess 4:, within which the bound edge of the tablet is to beplaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tablet-holder comprising a plate, a lip projecting from the upperend of the plate and bent to form a tablet-receiving recess, a coverhinged to said lip, and means operative IIO through the Walls of therecess to secure a tablet in place, said plate having a portionprojecting laterally beyond one edge of the cover.

2. A tablet-holder for use in connection with a telephone-cabinet,comprising a plate of a length and Width to correspond with the tabletto be used, said plate having a lip projccting from one end bent to forma tabletreceiving recess, a cover hinged to the free edge of said lip,and means for securing the tablet Within said recess, the plate beingprovided With a laterally-projected portion extending beyond one edge ofthe cover.

3. The combination with the battery-box 0f O. O. FOWLER, W. H. CLEFFER.

